Mudskipperムツゴロウ

Boleophthalmus pectinirostrisLC— Least Concern

The great blue-spotted mudskipper (Boleophthalmus pectinirostris), known in Japan as mutsugoro, is an amphibious goby that lives on muddy tidal flats in Japan's Ariake and Yatsushiro seas, as well as coastal Korea, China, and Taiwan. It breathes partly through its skin and water held in its mouth, allowing it to leave the water and crawl on its pectoral fins or leap across mud while grazing on diatoms and other benthic algae. It is listed as Least Concern by the IUCN.

Mudskipper (reference photo)
Photo: Totti / CC BY-SA 4.0 / Source / cropped

Species Data

Classification
Gobiiformes / Oxudercidae Source
Size
Total length about 15 cm, reaching a maximum of about 20 cm
Diet
Herbivore Herbivorous, feeding on benthic algae such as diatoms on the surface of tidal-flat mud
Distribution
Native to the northwestern Pacific including Japan, eastern China, Taiwan, and the Korean Peninsula, inhabiting muddy tidal flats near river mouths and mangroves; in Japan it is restricted to the Ariake and Yatsushiro seas. Source

Did You Know?

  • It can breathe through its skin and water held in its mouth, letting it leave the water to crawl on its pectoral fins or leap using its whole body. Source
  • When fleeing, it makes rapid, frog-like consecutive jumps, making it surprisingly hard to catch. Source
  • In the Ariake Sea region, it is traditionally caught using a technique called "mutsukake," which resembles fly fishing with a hook. Source

Where to See This Species

Operating facilities registered on this site: Japan 1

Nagasakipengin SuizokukanNagasakiOpened in 2001

Source

Latest news

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Conservation Story

Conservation Status

Least Concern (LC)

Sources

ja.wikipedia.org

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FAQ

How does a mudskipper breathe out of water?
It breathes partly through its skin and through water it holds in its mouth, letting it stay active on exposed mudflats. Source
What does the mudskipper eat?
It is herbivorous, grazing on diatoms and other benthic algae from the surface of the mud. Source
Why is it hard to catch a mudskipper?
When fleeing, it makes rapid, frog-like consecutive jumps across the mud, which makes it surprisingly difficult to catch. Source
How many operating facilities are registered here?
Operating facilities registered on this site: Japan 1 Source

Books & gear

Source: ja.wikipedia.org en.wikipedia.org